Jamuna devours 300 homesteads in 3 days

Jamuna devours 300 homesteads in 3 days

The Jamuna continues to engulf agricultural land in Shingria Bazar area in Phulchhari upazila of Gaibandha. Photo: Star

Erosion by the River Jamuna took an alarming turn in three days, from Thursday devouring over 300 homesteads in different areas of Phulchhari and Shaghata upazilas.
The worst affected areas are Balashi Ghat, Kalasona, Uriya and Singria in Phulchhari upazila, Gobindi and Haldia in Shaghata upazila.
The erosion-hit people, who took shelter on roads and embankment, are facing acute crisis of drinking water and food, said the victims and the local Water Development Board (WDB) sources.
Besides, Jamuna flood control dyke at Singria point is on the verge of collapse as it is now only 20 metres away from the onslaught, said locals.
If necessary measures are not taken immediately to check the erosion, the dyke may go into the river anytime, they said.
During a visit, this correspondent found many villagers leaving their homesteads for safer places in fear of further erosion.

Sandbags are being dumped into the river to stop its further onslaught. Photo: Star

Besides, several traders at Singria Bazar shifted their shops to safer place as the erosion hit the market seriously.
Although WDB dumped sand bags at the erosion point, it is too little to save the area, said Faruk Hossain a college teacher of Gobindi area.
They urged the government to thwart the erosion immediately, he said.

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